Long before photographer Marcio Jose Sanchez made history last month as the first native of Honduras to win a Pulitzer Prize, he had a deep history with Lynwood where he discovered a passion that guided him to the ultimate career achievement. Sanchez, who graduated from Lynwood High School in 1988, still remembers the inspiration of LHS educators who encouraged him to pick up a camera that would ultimately change his life. Sanchez is a member of a 10-person group of Associated Press photographers who were awarded the Pulitzer Prize in June for Breaking News Photography coverage of Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
Whittier Union High School District will benefit from $13.7 million in relief funds, presented by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez during a July 8 distribution event at Pioneer High School. The financial relief stems from the American Rescue Plan, which allotted funding for public education through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds. The funds, supported by Congresswoman Sánchez, will help ensure the District’s recovery out of the pandemic. The financial relief stems from the American Rescue Plan, which allotted funding for public education through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds. The plan, supported by Congresswoman Sánchez, will help ensure the District’s recovery out of the pandemic.
Alexis Amigon spent two anxious weeks in the hospital fighting COVID-19. Ana Garcia lost her job during the pandemic, after working for 20 years as a waitress. Seryna Thai had just graduated from USC film school when she became afflicted with fibromyalgia. All three women were determined to change the trajectory of their lives by enrolling at Fontana Adult School (FAS). Today, Amigon is considering a career as a certified respiratory therapist, Garcia has been hired as a bilingual educator for Riverside Unified School District, and Thai is looking forward to teaching digital media at FAS. Amigon and Garcia shared their stories during an emotional Fontana Adult School commencement ceremony, held June 10 at San Manuel Stadium.
Baldwin Park High School Boys Soccer Team to be Recognized by City
The Baldwin Park High School boys varsity soccer team will be recognized by the City of Baldwin Park during its regular city council meeting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 7. The Baldwin Park Unified soccer team won the CIF Southern Section Division V Championship in May – the school’s first title since 2014.
Whittier Union Hosts Food Giveaway During Drive-Thru Event
Whittier Union High School District, in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Supervisor Janice Hahn and the City of Santa Fe Springs, will host a food giveaway during a drive-thru distribution event from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, July 7. The event will take place at Santa Fe High School, 10400 Orr and Day Rd., Santa Fe Springs. The event is strictly drive-thru, no walk-ups will be allowed. Face coverings are required, and line formation will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Community activist and former Monrovia Unified Board Member Mimi Mency was honored during a dedication ceremony on June 29, when the Monrovia Unified Board of Education officially named the District Office Lobby in her memory. Mency, who was the first African-American to hold a seat on the Board of Education, died in 2011 at the age of 74. Mency served on the Board of Education from 1972 to 1984, leading the Board as president twice during her term. During her time on the Board, Mency was instrumental in the desegregation of Monrovia schools and led the effort in establishing Monrovia High School’s Black Student Union, a club that is still running strong today.
El Monte Union High School District received 11 all electric 2021 Gem Polaris eM 1400 LSV utility maintenance carts on Wednesday, June 23 as a part of the District’s participation in the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project, thanks to the $9.8 million grant awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Up until Wednesday, the District mostly had gas-powered utility maintenance carts in its inventory – the John Deere Gators. Each school has approximately two Gators utilized by the maintenance staff for lawn and field maintenance. Mountain View High School Plant Manager Danny Herrera is an El Monte High School graduate and has worked at the District for roughly 35 years. Herrera actually alerted the District to a utility maintenance cart deficit. Herrera would walk to destinations, allowing his colleagues to take his own cart, due to a utility cart shortage.
Buena Park School District is encouraging students to read more, expand their creativity, exercise regularly and boost their social-emotional growth by following a list of 20 activities posted on the District’s Summer Choice Board. The activities, selected by District staff, provide additional learning opportunities for students during the summer break – such as writing letters to friends, in-person and online reading events, virtual field trips to America’s national parks and physical education activities.
As young parents, Regina and Dennis Arnold wanted their children to receive an education that would embrace the diversity of their community and provide an academic advantage. On June 3, the Arnolds proudly watched as their youngest daughter, Sierra Vista High School Class of 2021 graduate Victoria Arnold, received her diploma during the school’s commencement ceremony. Victoria was adorned with the multicolored sash and biliteracy medallions she earned after completing 13 years as a dual language immersion student at Baldwin Park Unified.
Lynwood High School girls basketball team secured the CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA championship on June 19, following a 58-47 victory over Etiwanda. Just month earlier, the LHS Knights were not even certain they would be able to gather for a season due to COVID-19 safety guidelines and restrictions. Winning the regional title served as a victory for the entire Lynwood community after a year of unprecedented challenges.
